Episode 61 - Fueling the Run: Insights from World-Class Runner Sonja Friend-Uhl

Step onto the track with the exceptional Sonja Friend-Uhl as she imparts her wisdom from a stellar career as a record-setting middle-distance runner and assistant coach at Florida Atlantic University.  Pay attention as we tackle the pressing issue of undernourishment in collegiate athletes and the high-stakes world of D1 competition. Her journey is a masterclass balancing academics with athletics, setting a standard for aspiring runners everywhere.  Be inspired by the stories of Billy Mills and Roger Bannister, who pushed past perceived limits to etch their names in history. 

Timeline: 

0:00 to 2:00 – Sonja’s athletic accomplishments

3:40 – Female distance runners – burnout at D1 schools

6:45 – Masters track and field is now 25 years and over! The purpose is to give these talented runners an outlet when they leave college

10:27 – It’s ok for distance runners to put on some muscle; a “muscular” body is a healthier body

16:30 – The psychology of preparing to win. The inspiring story of Billy Mills – who won the gold medal for the 10,000 m at the 1964 Tokyo Games

19:07 – Every day for a year, Bill Mills wrote in his journal how the 10k race would turn out, and he was right!

31:58 – Sonya’s experience running track races against college women. “Why is my mom in this race.” 

32:53 – Collegiate Invitational in Miami – Sonja ended up racing against college women that she had coached when they were little kids!

34:22 – Quantity has its own quality.

35:06 – The worst part of aging is getting slower. So, how does one judge a workout?

38:36 - A 75-year-old that runs a sub-60 400 meters!

40:22 – Sports nutrition needs of distance runners. What supplements would Sonja recommend?

42:25 – Karla Antonio, an elite Masters cyclist, consumes ~3 g of protein per kg body weight daily. 

About our guest:

Sonja Friend-Uhl is an assistant cross country and track & field coach for Florida Atlantic University since  2016. Prior to FAU, Friend-Uhl served in a similar role at Vanderbilt University from 2012-2015.  Friend-Uhl, an accomplished runner, began her collegiate running career at The College of William & Mary, and she continues to compete to this day. In March of 2021, she set a new American record in the women’s 1500 meters (50-54 age group) with a time of 4:41.23. In the 2019 World Masters (45-49 age group) Indoor Championships held in Poland, she won a gold medal in the 800 meters as well as a silver in the 1500 meters. Professionally, she has been a member of six United States world teams and competed in the 2000 U.S. Olympic Trials. She currently holds additional American records in the Women’s (age 40 and above) Masters Indoor Mile with a time of 4:44.84, the Women’s Masters Outdoor 1500m (4:16.9), the Women’s Masters Outdoor Mile (4:45.68) and the Women’s Masters Indoor 3000m (9:48.23). When not working with FAU, Friend-Uhl is a personal fitness trainer and private running coach. She holds a USATF Coaching certification and has certifications in fitness with ACE, the ACSM, and AFAA. Friend-Uhl is the lead master trainer at Core Health & Fitness, which manufactures high-end gym equipment.

About the Show

We cover all things related to sports science, nutrition, and performance. The Sports Science Dudes represent the opinions of the hosts and guests and are not the official opinions of the International Society of Sports Nutrition (ISSN), the Society for Sports Neuroscience, or Nova Southeastern University. The advice provided on this show should not be construed as medical advice and is purely an educational forum.

Hosted by Jose Antonio, PhD

Dr. Antonio is the co-founder and CEO of the International Society of Sports Nutrition and the co-founder of the Society for Sports Neuroscience, www.issn.net. Dr. Antonio has over 120 peer-re